The clichéd refrain heading into any rematch is “repeat or revenge?” but that question can’t be applied to Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson II. “Repeat” is a nightmare scenario for both fighters and for the sport of boxing. “Revenge” is not a possibility because nobody lost last time.

The objectives in this rematch are simple: Hopkins wants to prove he’s still great at the unfathomable fighting age of 47; Dawson wants to become the recognized champion of the light heavyweight division after a couple of controversial near-misses; and the fans want something that in no way resembles Hopkins-Dawson I.